On Thu, 25 May 2000 - Bill Shirley, you wrote:
| Let me start off by saying I have been running Linux for over 5 years. Over
| the years I have learned a lot about Linux. However, there is still a lot I
| do not know. There are many packages out there that I know nothing about.
| What is "nhm", "samba", "bind", "wuftp"? Some of these I have used, some I
| have not. So how do I decide which packages to install? I don't really
| care how you classify me (desktop, server, expert, etc.). I DO know what I
| want to do with this computer.
|
| Therefor, I propose you change the install categories to "I want to:"
| things. Such as:
|
| Run a mail server
| Run a Domian Name Server
| Issue IP addresses to computers (DHCP)
| Dynamically aquire this computers IP address (DHCPC)
| Connect to the Internet
| Access disks and printers from Windows (SMB) clients
| Have a GUI desktop
| Run a time server
| Run a ftp server
| Allow ftp access
| Allow telnet access
| Allow SSH access
| Run a web server
| To develop programs
| To backup my system using tape
| Allow multiple users on this computer
| etc.
|
| Under each category, there might be sub-categories like:
| Run a web server
| --- which will use SQL
| --- which will use cgi
| --- with virual domains
| --- etc.
| Develop programs
| --- using Python
| --- using C++
| --- using for X
| Have a GUI desktop
| --- using KDE
| --- using Gnome
| --- etc.
|
| The bottom of the "I want to" tree should have a list of RPM's that fulfil
| the requirement LISTING THE BEST ONE FIRST. "Best one" could be defined as
| the one with the most GUI configuration support, or the easiest one to
| configure, or the simplest one to get the job done, etc. (If I know nothing
| about the packages that do this function, then I need a recomendation!)
| Like:
|
| Run a mail server
| --- install postfix
| --- install sendmail
| --- install qmail
| Run a web server
| --- which will use SQL
| --- +++ install MySQL
| --- +++ install postgres
| --- which will use cgi
| --- with virual domains
| --- etc.
|
| After the inital "loading the code" and reboot, "Am I finished?" Everyone
| knows the answer is "NO". So, "NOW WHAT DO I DO?"
|
| Please provide a post-install "TO DO" list with instructions and
| configuration scripts. Like:
|
| Allow multiple users on this computer
| --- Define a new group of users
| --- Add a new user
| --- Grant modem access
| --- Grant CD-ROM access
|
| Summary: This new method would require your user's to not have to know which
| packages to install; they only need to know what "I want to do".
|
| Hope you like this idea,
| Bill
--
Perhaps offer the user a choice?
___________________________
Ernie ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
